I took my first win in a criterium this weekend. It was fun. I didn't plan on winning and did not think I could win, either. I decided that this year I would stop caring about results and just try to have fun instead. I was still nervous when the race started, but not as much as I used to be last season.

There were some women in the race who I think are much stronger than I am. But I was in the right place at the right time for the final sprint. So part of winning has to do with luck. But also I was having a good day, feeling physically strong and my head was in the right place. I didn't know I had won until I came back around and asked someone. I had been concentrating so much on my sprint that I had tuned everything else out, including my competitors' positions. It's nice to be able to say that I have won a race.

Here's a photo of the final sprint.